Willard J. Stearns

Dairy Farmer, Ex-legislator

Willard J. Stearns, a Mansfield dairy farmer and former state representative, died Thursday at Windham Community Memorial Hospital. He was 86.

Stearns, who lived in the Storrs section of Mansfield, was president of Willard J. Stearns & Sons Inc., also known as Mountain Dairy, a family business in Mansfield started in 1871.

The University of Connecticut Dairy Club named him dairyman of the year in 1960. He was also a member of the Connecticut League of Dairy Farmers and Producer-Dealers.

Beginning in 1963, Stearns served three terms in the state legislature. He was a member of the Mansfield Board of Education and the school building committee.

He headed the board of directors of the former Willimantic Trust Co., was a corporator of Windham Community Memorial Hospital and was a member and former deacon of the First Church of Christ Congregational, Mansfield center.

He leaves his wife, Frances Crane Stearns; a daughter, Althea S. Ward of Storrs; three sons, Luther E. Stearns of Scotland, and Willard C. Stearns and Arthur B. Stearns, both of Mansfield; three brothers, Robert O. Stearns of Willimantic, Stedman G. Stearns of Storrs and Arizona and Theodore W. Stearns of South Windham; 24 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. in at the First Church of Christ Congregational.